Buendia Productions is proud to release its completely revised second edition
of Psychotherapy With Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Clients, the most
authoritative and comprehensive video series on the needs and treatment
issues of gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals, couples and families.
This groundbreaking series reflects the contributions of 27 of the most
influential and respected scholars and practitioners in the field as
well as over 30 GLB individuals who share their stories and
perspectives.
Research
indicates that while most psychotherapists frequently treat same sex
clients, most acknowledge that they have had inadequate education and
training as required by professional ethics. Studies have also revealed that there continues to be considerable prejudice and insensitivity in working with GLB clients.
This series was produced in association with Dr. Ron Scott, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Chapman University.
Program 1 Historical Perspectives The history of mental health practice with gay, lesbian and bisexual people is both complex and constantly evolving. This
introductory program to the series focuses on some of the most
important historical developments from ancient times to the present. Attention is given to early medical, psychoanalytic (interview with Dr. Charles Socarides), and behavioral (Dr. Joseph Wolpe and Dr. Gerald Davison) attempts to pathologize and change homosexuality. Next, the influences that led to the depathologizing of homosexuality are presented. Research
on contemporary bias in psychotherapy is reviewed by Dr. Kristin
Hancock and illustrated by an intensely poignant account of therapy
abuse by Robert Gentry, the nation’s first openly gay mayor. Dr. Eli Coleman discusses research and ethical issues related to recent attempts by “conversion therapies” to repathologize homosexuality and Dr. Simon LeVay offers a biological perspective on attempts to change sexual orientation. In the final segment more recent affirmative approaches are highlighted by Dr. Kathleen Mooney. Then Dr. Hancock introduces the current APA guidelines for working with GLB clients. At
the end of the program an actual client shares his testimony of
affirmative psychotherapy after years of negative therapy experiences. Archival film clips, used throughout to illustrate earlier treatment approaches and attitudes. (41 minutes)
Program 2 Individual Assessment and Psychotherapy Gay,
lesbian, and bisexual people utilize mental health services at a rate
considerably higher than heterosexuals and over 95% of psychotherapists
treat sexual minority clients in their practice. This program focuses on some of the most salient assessment and treatment issues that clinicians should know. Dr. Aaron T. Beck opens the program with his endorsement of the effectiveness of cognitive therapy with this population. Implications of internalized homophobia and the importance of hypothesis testing in therapy are presented by Dr. Armand Cerbone. Dr. Kathleen Mooney looks at the assessment of presenting problems/issues and stages of identitydevelopment that GLB clients typically bring to the therapist. In a very important segment, Dr. Kathleen Ritter discusses heterosexist bias in diagnosis of several DSM-IV-TR disorders. The
last half of the program is comprised of an extraordinary simulation of
two therapy sessions by Dr. Christine Padesky with “Greg” on his coming
out issues. Descriptions of therapy process issues and techniques being demonstrated appear on-screen. This award-winning segment, highly rated by graduate school classes, is an outstanding training demonstration for both students and experienced psychotherapists. (48 minutes)
Program 3 Relationships, Families and Couples Counseling Gay, lesbian, and bisexual couples are both similar and different
from heterosexual couples. The differences are primarily associated
with the social context of their lives and societal stigmization. GLB
parents also often have unique rewards and challenges. Until recently, the couples and family therapy literature has ignored same-sex families. Few clinicians have had training in this area. In
this groundbreaking program, Dr. Robert Jay Green, an innovative
researcher and clinician, emphasizes key issues and new approaches in
understanding and providing mental health services to GLB couples. Some of the areas he addresses are relational ambiguity, sexual exclusivity, and development of social support networks. Dr. Armand Cerbone joins Dr. Green in a discussion of how internalized homophobia affects relationships and Dr. Richard Rodriguez dramatically emphasizes the importance of families of choice for GLB couples. The last third of the program focuses on GLB parenting. Dr. Isiaah Crawford, a leading scholar on same-sex parenting, summarizes research-based characteristics and the diversity of GLB family constellations. He also provides very helpful suggestions on how therapists can provide support to GLB families. Throughout
this program interview clips from several same-sex couples, parents and
their children are used to illustrate and personalize the important
material covered by the expert presenters. (37 minutes)
Program 4 The Coming Out Process
One
of the most important aspect of every gay, lesbian and bisexual
person’s identity and psychosocial adjustment is coming out, but no two
individuals experience it in exactly the same way. This program features three diverse personal coming out stories—a
young African American woman who was institutionalized when she told
her parents, a retired professional Latino man who came out to his wife
and children later in life, and an affirming mother who shares the
process her family went through when her teenage son came out to them. Dr. Eli Coleman reviews the usefulness and limitations of his frequently cited coming out stages. Dr. Sari Dworkin offers specific recommendations to therapists who are helping clients with their coming out issues. In the last half of the program, Dr. Ritch Savin-Williams, a primary researcher in this field, discusses the process that parents go through when a GLB child comes out to them. He
reviews “stages” as typical developmental experiences, which may vary
according circumstances, and closes the program with very helpful
suggestions to parents, which can lead to fantastic growth for each
member of the family. (40 minute)
Program 5 The Bisexual Experience
The
emerging body of scientific evidence over the past 30 years suggests a
new paradigm of sexual orientation that is multidimensional, sometimes
fluid, and highly individual. An elaboration of
this approach allows for greater validation of bisexuality. This is the
first educational program on the psychology of bisexuality and it
features cutting-edge research presented by some of the leading scholars
in the field. Dr. Fritz Klein uses his famous grid to demonstrate the multivariable and fluid nature of sexual orientation. Various definitions, models, and types of bisexuality are reviewed by Dr. Sari Dworkin and then Dr. Ron Fox profiles who bisexuals are using data from his largest-to-date demographic study. The developmental challenges of bisexual identity and bisexual coming out issues are dramatically presented by Dr. Dworkin. In the last segment Dr. Mary Bradford joins Dr. Fox in educating therapists on how to provide more effective and affirming mental health services to bisexual women and bisexual men. Throughout
the program a special feature, “My Bisexual Experience,” presents the
insightful and sensitive personal journeys of three bisexual
individuals—Greg, Susannah, and Scott. (48 minutes)
Program 6 Diversity and Multiple Identities
Lesbians,
gay men, and bisexuals who are “people of color” must manage
conflicting allegiances with divergent social worlds including their
ethnic culture, the majority culture and the gay/bisexual community. Psychosocial
adjustment and positive identity formation are often sources for
integration and balance of these life influences. This program
highlights personal accounts by GLB individuals from diverse ethnic
groups. Dr. Beverly Greene, one of the most
distinguished scholars in this field, offers perspective on the
empirical and clinical challenges associated with multiple oppressions and positive identity development. Culture-specific segments are then presented: Dr. Oliva Espin and Dr. Richard Rodriguez on the Latino/a experience; Dr. Isiaah Crawford and Dr. Greene on the African American perspective; and Dr. Terry Gock on Asian American issues. Specific treatment recommendations for therapists who are working with GLB’s of color are summarized by Dr. Greene. The final portion of the program is a compelling cross-cultural therapy session by Dr. Christine Padesky with a Korean lesbian client which demonstrates the assessment and treatment of culture-bound issues. (50 minutes)
Program 7 Sexual Minority Adolescents
This
program combines the voices of leading professionals with those of gay
and lesbian youth to present an insightful look at several aspects of
the GLB adolescent experience. In the opening part of the program, Dr. Ritch Savin-Williams, the leading scholar on GLB development, reviews typical developmental milestones that adolescents may experience. He then proposes four key “differential developmental trajectories” as a comprehensive model for understanding healthy GLB identity development. The middle part of the program features Dr. Karla Anhalt’s research-based discussion of several potentially stressful aspects of identifying as GLB during adolescence. Topics
include loss of social support, victimization/harassment, suicidality,
high risk sexual behavior and substance abuse. The emphasis is on
helping GLB youth become resistant to potential stressors. In
the last third of the program Dr. Teresa DeCrescenzo, one of the
nation’s most recognized experts in working with GLB youth, focuses on a
paradigm shift from a pathologizing model to a strength-based treatment approach. She
covers such areas as mentoring, trust/transference/disclosure,
discovering “one’s path,” adjustment to social roles, resiliency against
harassment, religious concerns, and bibiotherapy, She ends with her
“recipe for a happy, healthy GLB adolescent.” Throughout this program diverse GLB youth share their positive and negative experiences and perspectives. (50 minutes)
